When a Mental Health Diagnostic Evaluation May Be Helpful

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​​​​Families may consider an evaluation when a child or adolescent is experiencing:

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• Persistent anxiety, worry, fear, or avoidance

• Sadness, irritability, withdrawal, or loss of interest

• Difficulty managing emotions or recovering from frustration

• Behavioral changes that are difficult to understand

• School avoidance or a significant decline in academic functioning

• Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships

• Physical complaints that may be associated with emotional distress

• Changes in sleep, appetite, motivation, or energy

• Frequent emotional outbursts or conflict

• Difficulty adjusting to increased expectations or life changes

• Symptoms that have not improved with existing support

• Concerns involving more than one possible diagnosis

• A need for diagnostic clarification before beginning or changing treatment

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Children and adolescents do not always describe emotional distress directly. Difficulties may instead become apparent through behavior, physical complaints, academic changes, withdrawal, irritability, or problems within relationships.

These concerns do not necessarily point to one particular diagnosis. Dr. McDermott begins by learning about the child and the family’s questions before recommending an individualized assessment process.

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A Comprehensive, Individualized Evaluation

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DA mental health diagnostic evaluation examines more than a list of symptoms. Dr. McDermott considers when the concerns began, how they have changed over time, the situations in which they occur, and how they affect the child’s daily life.
 

Depending on the child’s age, needs, and referral questions, the evaluation may explore:

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• Anxiety, fears, and patterns of avoidance

• Mood, motivation, and emotional well-being

• Emotional regulation and coping

• Behavior and impulse control

• Relationships with family members and peers

• School functioning and academic demands

• Attention and executive functioning

• Social communication and developmental history

• Stressful experiences and significant life changes

• Sleep, health, and other factors affecting functioning

• Individual strengths, interests, and protective factors

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The evaluation may include parent interviews, age-appropriate meetings with the child or adolescent, standardized questionnaires, assessment activities, record review, and information from other professionals. With parental permission, Dr. McDermott may gather information from teachers, therapists, physicians, or others who know the child.
 

Not every evaluation includes every area or activity listed above. The assessment is tailored to the child and the questions being explored.

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Clarifying Overlapping Concerns

Emotional, behavioral, developmental, attentional, and learning concerns frequently overlap. For example, difficulty concentrating may be associated with anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disruption, academic frustration, or several factors occurring together. Withdrawal may reflect anxiety, low mood, social difficulty, stress, or another aspect of the child’s experience.
 

A comprehensive evaluation considers these possibilities rather than assuming that one symptom has one explanation. Dr. McDermott examines patterns across the child’s history, current experiences, and functioning in different environments.
 

When appropriate, Dr. McDermott uses the findings to determine whether the child meets diagnostic criteria for a mental health or developmental condition. The evaluation may also identify co-occurring concerns that should be considered when planning treatment or support.
 

When a diagnosis does not apply, families can still receive useful information about the child’s emotional and behavioral needs and recommendations for moving forward.
Evaluation Rather Than Ongoing Therapy
 

Mental health diagnostic evaluation and psychotherapy serve different purposes. An evaluation is a time-limited process intended to clarify the nature of a child’s difficulties and recommend appropriate next steps. Psychotherapy is an ongoing treatment relationship focused on helping a child or adolescent make changes over time.
 

McDermott Psychological provides diagnostic evaluation rather than ongoing psychotherapy through this service. When treatment is recommended, Dr. McDermott can help families understand the types of services that may be appropriate and identify considerations for selecting a provider.​​